Wow that did a great job on that old kettle. It was weird because yesterday George over at Woodworkers Guild of America just did a write-up and video on rust removal using electrolysis, and it worked really well too without damaging the old plane.Here’s a link if you want to check it out.: http://www.wwgoa.com/removing-rust-with-electrolysis/Bruce

Clean-up: difficulty? Not much … but then I’m using the molasses mixture for some other cast iron items, now that I know how easy the process was—and that it works. (And then my neighbour wants to try it on some car parts, so he will be taking it off my hands, I think)

If he doesn’t take it I am going to empty the tub on a patch of sand that has been overtaken by weeds. I’m hoping that the molasses will kill off the weeds without any negative side-effects.

I have never seen that type of Molasses in that big of bag in my life!... I wouldn’t know how to start to find it… (besides Google) LOL

Sounds like it might be very expensive…

Using Electrolysis isn’t dangerous! Just a 12v battery charger is all it takes…

In this particular case the electrodes for Electrolysis would have to reversed (because the POT wants to be the Subject… and suspend a hunk of iron in the middle for the other electrode… I think it would work good… and the biggest expense would be some Washing Soda and electricity… 12v charger…

Wasn’t that Molasses a little costly?Where did you get it (kind of store)?

Very nice job MsDebbie! I had never heard of using molasses. Having use electrolysis on several hand planes, I will be sticking with that for for now… A couple of cups of Washing Soda in an 18gal container, two steel plates on the side and hanging the parts in the center hooked up to a battery charger works for me, as Joe points out.

I am afraid that the molasses concoction would be to popular for all of the wild critters we feed on a regular bases, and our cats would probably be overweight if I left something like that out too long… ;-)

first of all your chastisement of not always being in a lumberjock mode…:).....and now your kudo’s for doing such a wonderful job, ive never heard of this process, and im so surprised it did so well, ive got a dutch oven that is in almost the same condition, so i guess i shall have to try this method myself, now…its time for a batch of beans, but make sure your outside when the beans are consumed…:)...at least that is how its got to be done in our family….:)

I got the bag of dried molasses (animal feed grade) at the local feed store.It cost me $20 and I barely made a dent in it with the 24 cups that I used. I’ll say it was a 10th of the bag but I doubt it was that much.